The present Mercator with enamel dial depicting the map of the south-west area of Switzerland is both rare and historically relevant as it is not only one of the original prototypes made to test the model but it also features a dial that has never been used since. Launched in 1994, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the celebrated Flemish/German cartographer’s passing, Gerard Mercator (1512-1594), the Vacheron Constantin Mercator can be considered an elegant and equally avant-garde timepiece with its two retrograde hands and enameled dial. In 1569 the cartographer developed a projection that now bears his name and still used today, which rendered the configuration of the terrestrial globe on to a flat surface and became the standard for nautical purposes.
The history of the present Vacheron Constantin Mercator is as unique and fascinating as the process itself. Part of a unique series of 7 prototypes made before the official launch of the model, the present Prototype N° 03, as confirmed on the dial, represents part of the "Suisse Romande"(French speaking region of Switzerland) and of France and Italy. Based on the Helvetia cum finitimis regionibus confoederatis map of Mercator made in 1585, the dial depicts the French speaking cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Valais and Fribourg with its mountains and lakes separated by colorful broad borders. Interestingly, only one city is mentioned at 3 o'clock, the one of Arzier situated in the hills above Geneva Lake. Not knowing its exact signification, one can only assume that Arzier must have been of high importance to the commissioner/receiver of the timepiece. According to research and its Certificate of Origin, other prototype dials were produced, most notably featuring Italy, Eurasia, and the Americas. These prototypes were made to test the movement and dials but were never made publicly available. Housing the extra flat caliber 1120, modified for a bi-retrograde time indication, the hands progress divergently across two arc-shaped zones, one graduated from 1 to 12 hours and the other from 0 to 60 minutes. Each hand returns instantly to zero on exactly completing one half day and one hour respectively. Measuring 36mm in diameter, the case is extremely comfortable on the wrist and is certain to captivate the attention of collectors regardless of the occasion. Exceptionally well-preserved, offered with its original accessories and never seen in the market with this prototype dial before, the present Mercator is truly spectacular and highly collectable, and is certainly made for style-conscious connoisseurs of rare and remarkable timepieces.